Peter Jackson

Born on Oct. 31, 1961 in Pukerua Bay, New Zealand, Jackson was raised by his father, William, a civil service accountant, and his mother, Joan, a factory worker; both of whom emigrated from England. A film buff from an early age, Jackson began making his own movies as a teenager after a family friend gave him a Super 8mm camera, learning the tricks of the trade from trial and error rather than through formal schooling. When he was 17, Jackson left school and applied for an entry-level job at the Film Unit in nearby Wellington, only to be turned away. Distraught over the blow, he began work as a photoengraver at The Evening Post while proceeding to make a 10-minute short called "Roast ... Continue Bio >>